Means for forming sheathed electrical heating elements



May 16, 1950 E. 5. SMITH 2,507,825 MEANS FOR FORMING SHEATHED ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENTS Filed June 22, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 16, 1950 5. SMITH MEANS FOR FORMING SHEATHED ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1946 IIIL...

May 16, 1950 E. 5. SMITH 2,507,825

MEANS FOR FORMING SHEATHED ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENTS Filed June 22, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet s May 16, 1950 E. 5. SMITH 2,507,825

MEANS FOR FORMING SHEATHED ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENTS Filed June 22, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 4 5 Mnmvenc I00 Mans 89 84 90 85 98 a7 z uaadl May 16, 1950 asmggzs E. S SMITH MEANS FOR FORMING SHEATHED ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENTS 550 V LINE REV W mru/ Imam Z7 I Wve-n'lar Patented May 16, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR FORMING SHEA'IHED ELEC- TRICAL HEATING ELEMENTS 14 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for forming sheathed electrical heating elements, and particularly to apparatus for closing and/or welding together projecting flanges of heating elements such as shown in my United States Patent No. 2,272,136.

One feature of the invention is the provision of means for closing the flanges and welding them together in successive operations. Other features of the invention relate to the means for carrying out the closing and welding operation including gripping means for holding the element, means for compressing the flanges, means for welding, and controls for the machine.

The invention is hereinafter particularly described and is illustrated by way of example in the annexed drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a length of the element, partly broken away, in the form which it takes prior to being closed and welded;

Figure 3 is a oross-section of the element shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-section of the same element after it has partially closed;

Figure 5 is a cross-section of the same element after it has been fully closed and is ready for welding;

Figure 6 is a vertical section through the machine on the lines 66 in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a cross-section on the line 'l-l in Figure l, partly broken away and showing the element gripping means as having been moved to carry the element between the welding rollers;

Figure 8 is a plan view of part of the forming rollers;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the driving control and braking mechanism;

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic side view of the mechanism for breaking the welding circuit when the welding rollers approach one another too closely;

Figure ll is a diagrammatic view of the control mechanism;

Figure 12 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical system and controls; and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the mounting of the arms on which the forming rollers are supported.

In the drawings corresponding numerals refer to corresponding parts in the difierent figures.

Generally speaking the invention comprises gripping members which grip the element between them with the flanges protruding above them and which are reciprocable to carry the element first between forming rollers and then between welding rollers and back again to the place of beginning. During the return movement the welding rollers will be inoperative, but the forming rollers may be utilised to compress the flanges after welding to prevent distortion of the element when it is removed from the gripping members. The element may be carried twice between the forming rollers to close the flanges in two operations before the welding operation is carried out.

'lhe gripping members i are slidably mounted on an I-beam 2 which is mounted on suitable frame members. The gripping members are preferably formed in a plurality of sections each of which is identical in construction and connected to the adjacent section. Secured to 0pposite ends of the gripping members are the ends of a chain 3 which travels over the I-beam 2 and around sproc ets t and 5 at each end of the I-beam. Beneath the I-beam tension rollers 6, 6, 6 may be provided engaging the chain 3.

The sprocket 5 is rotated by means of motor IE8 in a manner hereafter described in some detail.

The construction of the ripping members can be seen more particularly in Figure 6 where it will be seen that the gripping members ride on a plate 2a bolted to the upper end of the I-beam 2. Each gripping member comprises a fixed jaw l and a movable jaw 8 which is pivoted on a pin 9. A recess is formed in the fixed jaw memoer l, and the pivoted jaw member 3 extends into said recess, the pin 9 extending from one side to the other of the recess having its ends secured to the ends of the fixed jaw member I.

Mounted in the said recess in the fixed jaw member l is an actuating cylinder it having a head ii with a central aperture therein to receive a nipple 52 to which is connected a compressed air line it. Piston M which is reciprocable in the cylinder it is provided with an annular inward extension it which fits into a recess in the head i l and is provided with a passageway therein extending from the end longitudinally and transversely so that it communicates with the interior of the cylinder Iii.

Gaskets or washers It and Elia are provided on the piston and cylinder head respectively. It will be observed that when compressed air is admitted into the cylinder the piston will be forced out. A screw ll extends through the tail 8a of the movable jaw 8 and engages the piston M. This is adjustable as desired to obtain the desired movement of the movable jaw It i3. When the piston is forced out by the compressed air, the tail 3a of the movable jaw 8 is forced out causing the upper end of the movable jaw to move towards the upper end of the fixed jaw i.

Bolted to the upper ends of the two jaws are rectangular metal bars l8 and Mia and bolted to the bar it is a strip is of substantially the same width as the base of the element 2t which is shown in position between the jaws. The angle between the bar iii and the strip is forms a shoulder to receive said element A spring Si is compressed in a recess in the side face of the bar it, tending to press against strip is to spread the jaws apart when the air pressure is relieved, thus permitting the jaws to open to insert or remove the element therebetween.

Air is supplied to the cylinders and the gripping members from a source of air pressure through valve shown in Figure l and line 23 to axle of a reel 25 on which a flexible hose 26 is wound which is connected to an air line which extends along the base of the fixed jaws of the gripping members and which is tapped by air pipes l3 which carry the air to the individual cylinders of section of the gripping members. As the gripping members move back and forth, the flexible tube will wind and unwind on the reel thus providing a constant supply of air to the gripping members.

A sliding rod is journalled on brackets 29 which extend out from and are secured to the web of the I-beam 2 and one or more handles 30 extend outwardly from said rod 28. By sliding the rod 28 by means of handle as the valve 22 is opened or closed by means of suitable linkage iii.

The element 26 in the form shown in Figures 2 3 is inserted between the jaws of the gripping members and the valve is then actuated to clamp the element between the jaws. The pro- .iecting flanges Eta. are then passed between the forming rollers hereinafter described to close the element and then through the welding rollers hereinafter described to weld the flanges 28a together.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 8 guide members 32 and are provided to center the gripping members as they pass beneath forming rollers and 35. The guide members and the forming rollers are mounted on oppositely disposed arms 3% and as shown in Figure 6, which are swingably mounted on a shaft 38 which passes between and is iournalled in lugs 2b, 20 secured to and extending beneath the I-beam 2.

The guide members 32 and are mounted *es ectively on adjustable pins 39, 39 and to, it below the forming rollers 34 and 35. These pins are screwed into the upper ends of the arms 36 and Si and are provided with lock nuts so that they can be held in desired adjusted position. It will be seen that by screwing in the pins 39 and 4a the guide members 32 and 33 will be moved closer together and vice versa so that they can be accurately adjusted so as to engage the sides of the gripping members, thus centralizing the gripping members so that the flanges of the element will be tangential to the forming wheels.

After the guide members have been initially adjusted on the pins and they may be brought into close contacting relationship with the sides of the gripping members for the forming operation and moved out of contacting relationship after the forming operation is completed. The means for closing and separating the guide members shown in Figure 8 comprises cams M and 12 mounted on arms 36 and 3! and operable by levers 43 and M respectively which are connected by a link 45. The arm 43 extends beyond the point at which the link 45 i pivoted thereto to form a handle 43a. By pushing or pulling the handle, the cams H and 42 will be turned to permit the guide members 32 and 33 under the influence of springs 46, 4G and ill, s1 to be advanced or retracted. In Figure 8 the guide members are shown in the advanced gripping member engaging position.

Compression springs 48, ,8 shown in Figure 6 are mounted on a rod 49 which extends through flanges on the arms 36 and 31, the compression springs tending to spread the arms 3'! apart to separate the forming rollers.

The forming rollers are drawn together by means of a screw 50 having a head 5| which is located in a recess in a lug 52 mounted on arm 31 (see Figures 6 and 8). The head 5! is inserted in said recess by dropping the shaft of the screw 5G through a transverse slot in said lug 52. A lug 53 mounted on arm 36 is provided with transverse threaded hole into which screw 58 is threaded, and at the end of screw 50 is a wheel 54. By turning the wheel in one direction the screw will draw the arms 36 and L l together and by turning it in the other direction it will permit them to spread apart under the influence of springs 48, 48.

It will be observed that the lugs 52 and 53 are mounted on bridges 55 and 56 which are bolted to the upper ends of the arms 36 and 31 respectively and extend over the wheels 34 and It will also be noted that the wheels 34 are journalled on the upper end of the arms .56 and 31' and the bridges 5 5 and 56 respectively.

It has been found that if the closing process is completed in one operation there is a tendency for the flanges to spring open, and to avoid this it is preferred to subject the element to a two stage closing process before welding, which can be done by passing the element back and forth between the forming rollers with the rollers at different elevations so that On the first pass the flanges are gripped at a higher place than on the subsequent pass. This effect is achieved by forming on the shaft 38 on which the arms 3-5 and 31 are mounted eccentrics 55a as shown in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 13 the shaft 38 is provided at one end with a bevel gear which meshes with bevel gear 38b on spindle 38c. A handle SM is secured to spindle 380. By turning the handle and thus rotating the shaft the eccentrics will raise the arms 36 and 37 so that the forming rollers will engage only the upper edge of the flanges 28a, 28a of the element and by lowering the lever 38a, the rollers will be brought down so as to engage the whole of the flange and co1nplete the closing thereof.

When the gripping members carrying the fully closed element have passed the forming rollers or wheels, they will pass beneath the welding wheels 57 and 58 which like the forming wheels are in opposed relationship and horizontally arranged, being rotatably mounted on opposed arms 59 and 56 which are similar to the arms 38 and 31 on which the forming rollers are mounted and which are therefore not shown in the draw ings and not described except insofar as is necessary to describe the mounting of the welding wheels.

Referring particularly to Figure 7 which shows on the left a section through the arm 59 and the welding wheel 51 and on the right shows the welding wheel 58 and the arm 80 in side elevation, the gripping member with the element clamped therein is shown passing beneath the welding wheels. Since the construction and mounting of each wheel is similar, the description will refer to the wheel 51 which is shown to the left in Figure 7.

A casting 6| forms a bridge bolted at each end to the arm 59 and has formed integrally therewith a cover plate 6 I a for the welding wheel.

The welding wheel is bolted to a hub 62 which is rotatably mounted on ball bearings 63a to the upper end of the arm 59 and by ball bearing 63 to the bridge 6I.

Vertically spaced annular brackets 59a and 59b extend outwardly from arm 59 and are provided with a series of registering holes adapted to receive brushes 64 which are pressed by springs 65 into contact with the under surface of the welding wheel 51. Flexible conductors 66 are connected to the lower ends of the brushes and to a source of low voltage, high amperage, power, in ractice the source of power supply consists of about 3 volts and 3,000 amperes of intermittent welding current. This means of introducing the current to the welding wheel has many advantages over the usual practice of passing the current through the axle, which causes sparking and fusing and rapid wearing of the bearings. By this arrangement, it is possible to mount the wheels on ball bearings.

A novel cooling method is used. On the under side of the outer edge of th cover plate 6Ia is formed a groove 61 in which is mounted an annular washer 68 of felt or other suitable material which engages the upper surface of the wheel 51. An aperture 69 is formed in the upper surface of the cover plate 6Ia.- and water from a suitable source of supply 10 is permitted to flow into said aperture onto the upper surface of the wheel 51 from which it travels towards the centre and through transverse hole 62a in the hub and perpendicular axle hole 621) to a receiver H to which is connected a tube 12 to carry the water away to the waste.

A bridge 13 similar to bridge 6| is mounted on the arm 60 and bolted thereto in a similar manner. Mounted on bridge 13 is a bifurcated lug 14 and mounted on bridge BI is a similar bifurcated lug 15. Piston rod 16 of compressed air cylinder 18 passes through the bifurcations. A hub 19 on the cylinder 18 engages the lug 14. In a manner not shown, by the application of compressed air to the cylinder the piston rod 16 may be drawn inward.

Screwed to the other end of the piston rod 16 is a wheel 19a having an internally threaded hub 80 and between the hub and the lug is a spring BI. When compressed air is admitted to the cylinder 19, the piston 16 pulls the wheel and hub towards the lug 15. The cylinder hub 19 presses against lug 14 with the result that the arms 59 and 60 are pulled together closing the welding wheels 51 and 58. The Welding operation is intermittent owing to the pulsating current. When the current is passing through the welding wheels and across the flange of the element, there is a fusion of the flange causing the welding wheels 51 and 58 to compress the flange so that said wheels move together slightly. The spring 8| permits a slight to and from movement of the welding wheels in operation. By turning the wheel 19, the pressure of the spring 8| may be adjusted.

To automatically break the welding circuit before the welding wheels touch, as, for instance after the flanges of the heating element have passed between them, and thus prevent fusing of the welding wheels, an automatic switch is provided which is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in Figure 10.

Shown in this figure are the arms 59 and 60 on which the welding wheels are mounted. Extending upwardly and outwardly from the arm 59 is a bracket 83 to the upper end of which is connected a transverse rod 84, the outer end of which is threaded and passes through a sleeve 85. The sleeve 85 extends through and is slidably mounted in the upper end of lever 86 which is pivoted to the arm 60 at 86. A nut 81 is threaded on the threaded end of the rod 84 and between the nut and the sleeve is provided a spring 88. Likewise threaded on the rod 84 is a nut 89 located at the other end of the sleeve and a lock nut 90. The spacing of the nut 89 from lever 86 can be adjusted by adjusting the nuts 89 and 90. The spring 88 holds the sleeve 85 normally in contact with the nut 89, and the tension of the spring can be adjusted by nut 81.

It will be seen that when the arms 59 and 60 swing together a predetermined distance the upper end of lever 86 will engage nut 89 and the lower end of lever 86 Will swing inwards. A link 9| is pivotally connected to the lower end of lever 86 and to a movable contact member 92 which normally engages fixed contact member 93. However, if the arms 59 and 60 move together sufliciently to cause the welding wheels to nearly touch, link 9I will break the contact. Leads 94 and 95 and contacts 92 and 93 respectively are connected in the welding circuit, so that the welding circuit is broken when contacts 92 and 93 are separated.

The drive means is shown in Figure 9 more or less diagrammatically. Electric motor I00 through the medium of belt IOI and worm gear I02 drives sprocket 5 which rotates chain 3 and causes the gripping members I to move. Belt IOI extends around pulleys I03 and I04 on motor shaft I05 and worm gear spindle I06 respectively.

Another motor I01 which operates at a slower speed than motor I00 is provided for operating the gripping members at a relatively slow speed during the welding operation. Motor I01 is provided with a pulley I08 on its shaft I09. A drive belt Ilil passes around pulley I08 and pulley III on spindle I I 2 of worm gear II3. Slidably mounted on externally splined spindle II4 of worm gear I I3 is an internally grooved sleeve I I5 to which is secured an internal gear I I5. A swingably mounted yoke I I1 is pivotally connected at its sides by pins H8, H8 to the gear H6 and at its upper end to clutch operating rod II9 by pin I20.

At the outer end of shaft I05 of the worm gear I02 is an externally toothed gear I2I. By pulling the rod II9 to the right in Figure 9 the internal gear II6 will mesh with the gear I2I whereby the machine will be driven by slow speed motor I01. By means hereinafter described the high speed motor will be electrically disconnected when the clutch is operated to change the drive from the high speed motor to the low speed motor, and vice versa, and a centrifugally operated safety device is provided to prevent operation of the clutch when the gear I2I is turning. This safety device is not shown in the drawings since it is a common device and does not form part of this invention.

It will be observed that although the high speed adapted to, engage lug @I 29.

motor; I is electrically disconnected. when slow :speedmotor ID'Lis ingear, itwill not be physically disconnected but,will;-,be turned over bythe. slow speed-motor.

"Control means for the machine are illustrated diagrammatically inoFi-gures, l1 and 12,. in which Figure 11 illustrates the control means -;and;-Figure 12 the electrical circuit for starting, stopping, and reversing the device.

Referring first .toFigure ll, theqcontrols are housed tin-control, box I22. :The clutch operating arm I I9 extends behind the machine, as shown in Figure 1, andrispivoted to crank awn-I23 on transverserotatable shaft; I24. Lever. I25..is .secured to and extends at right angles. to the shaft .I24. Extending from lever I25 is operating arm .126; provided Witha handle I27.

.liltoclose the Weld-ingwheels.

In the various figures of the drawings thecontrol members, are shown in the position they .would. assume when the high speed-motor only is connectedto the driving mechanism. In Figure- 11 the. position-ofthe controls forconnecting the low speed-motor is shown. in dotted lines.

Pivotally connected to the free end or lever I25, asshown in Figure 1 is a rod I28 which passes through a lug I29 which projects through. a slot in. the casing and is. connected to a lever I38 .within. the box shown in Figure 11. 'The rod. I23

is provided with .a collar 128a fixed thereto and A coil spring I3I (shown inFigui-e 1,; but cmittedfor thesake of clarity from. igure 11) i is connectedto lug. I29 and the end of lever [25. Thisv arrangement provides; a lost; motion mechanism for actuating the switches, hereafter described, .by the same motion that actua-tes, the clutch to engage .or dis engage the slow speed; motor.

Referring to Figure 11, the lever I3I'i isiiulcrumedsatv I32. An insulated link I33. is pivoted to lever I30 and to a plurality of conducting pivoted contact arms I34, I35, 13% andi I31. S/Yhen handle. I21 islifted it will-raise =1ever I25, rod I28,

lever I35, link I33, .and' contactarms, I34, I35,

I36,-, and I31. When handle IZ'Iis pushed down reverse result will beeffected. Lifting-of lever I25 will actuate gear 'shiit control arm 19 to put the slow.- speed motor outof geaiyancl, vice versa.

Contact arm I34 is adapted to engage-contact I38 tocomplete the circuit ofa 110 v. circuit to the Welding circuit timing motor. Contact arms I35, I36 andvl3'i; are in a. three-phase 550,v. circult ior operating the motors. When in their raised position. theyv engage contacts I39, I45, I4!

in. the high speed motor circuit. When lowered,

as shown in dotted lines the engage contacts I42, I43 and I44 in the low speed motor circuit as. shown indottedlines.

iItwill thus beseenthat when the operator lifts the: handle I21 the lowspeed motor willbe disengaged, the. timing. motor circuit .and .low speed motor circuit will be broken, the highspced motor circuit completed, and the welding. wheels (Ill .movedapart; thus operating the device for, forming. When. thehandle is pushed down'the low speed motor will be put into gear, the high speed motor circuitbrokenand the low speed motor circuit-made, the timingmotor circuit closed, and thewelding wheels closed, thus Operating the device for Welding.

The electrical circuit is shown in Figure 12. On the-right isshown diagrammatically the switch interlock above described. The contacts I34-I38 make or breakthe 1-10 v.-ci rcuit which operates the synchronous timing motor I45. Contacts I39, I40, and MI. are shown as being in a three-phase 550 volt line connected to the high speed motor I used for the forming operation. Contacts I42, I3 and I44 are shown as. being in a three-phase .550 volt line connected to the low speed motor Ifil.

An electric brake I45 is connected in the; high speed motorcircuit, said brake being mounted on high speed motor Itil. The brake is of the ordinary kind in which the application of power actuates electromagnets which relieve the brake and when the power is cut off the brake is auto matically applied.

The welding current is taken from a 550 volt line as shown at the bottom ofFigure 12, passes through automatic switch 92-93 (illustratedin Figure 10) to-avariable transformer I47 of a type commonly used to step down the voltage and raise the amperage for welding purposes, and which need not be described in detail. Ihe welding circuit then passes through timer contacts I48 which are connected and disconnected by the timing motor I in a known manner to provide a pulsating current for welding.

Limit switches I49 I50 are mounted at each end of I-beam 2 adapted to be engaged by the grippers I as they approach the ends of the track andthus stop the motor and apply the .brake automatically.

A reversing lever I5I extends from the control box I22 (see Fig. 11). This lever operates switch I52 shown in Figure 12 in the motor power circuit. Connected in the power. circuit is a standard change phase starting and reversing device I53 shown in Figure 12 within the dotted lines. Since this device is well known it is shown diagramlnatically within the dotted lines but is not further described. Sui'lice it to say that by swinging lever t5! to the left or right the motor direction. may be reversed and hence the direction of travel of the gripping members.

What I claimias my invention is:

1.. In apparatus for closing projecting flanges in sheathed electrical heating elements, a track, an element gripping member mounted on and of .less length than saidtrack adapted to receive and hold the heating element with its flanges projecting upwardly above the upper surface of the gripping member, a pair of opposed forming wheels at opposite sides of the track above the line of travel of the gripping member, and means for moving the gripping member on the track relative tothe formingwheels, said forming wheels being arranged in such position relative to the gripping member that the upwardly extending flanges of the element when held in the gripping member will pass between the forming wheels and be pressed together, the aforesaid gripping member including aplurality of pairs of opposed pivoted jaws, each pair having an air cylinder for closing the jaws, an air line communicating with the cylinders and a.-sou1'ce of air pressure, a valve in the air line, a flexible section in the air line,

' and a wheel on which the flexible section is wound, and means tending to rotate said wheel to wind up the flexible section, whereby when the gripping member moves in one direction the flexible section will wind and when it moves in the opposite direction the flexible section will unwind.

2. In apparatus for closing together projecting flanges on sheathed electrical heating elements, a track, an element gripping member mounted on and of less length than said track adapted to receive and hold the heating element with its flanges projecting upwardly above the upper surface of the gripping member, a pair of opposed forming Wheels rotatably mounted above the line of travel of the gripping member at opposite sides of the track, means for moving the gripping member on the track relative to the forming Wheels, said forming wheels being arranged in such position relative to the element gripping member that the upwardly extending flanges of the element when held in the gripping member will pass between the forming wheels, and means for centering the flanges of the element between the forming wheels as they pass between them, said centering means comprising opposed guides arranged below the forming wheels and adapted to engage opposite sides of the element gripping member.

3. In apparatus for closing together projecting flanges on sheathed electrical heating elements, a track, an element gripping member mounted on and of less length than said track adapted to receive and hold the heating element with its flanges projecting upwardly and above the upper surface of the gripping member, a pair of opposed forming wheels rotatably mounted above the line of travel of the gripping member at opposite sides of the track, means for moving the gripping member on the track relative to the forming wheels, said forming wheels being arranged in such position relative to the element gripping member that the upwardly extending flanges of the element when held in the gripping member will pass between the forming wheels, means for centering the flanges of the element between the forming wheels as they pass between them, said centering means comprising opposed guides arranged below the forming wheels and adapted to engage opposite sides of the element gripping member, and means for moving said guides towards each other into engaging position with opposite sides of the element gripping member.

4. In apparatus for closing together projecting flanges on sheathed electrical heating elements, a track, an element gripping member mounted on and of less length than said track adapted to receive and hold the heating element with its flanges projecting upwardly above the upper surface of the gripping member, a pair of opposed forming wheels rotatably mounted above the line of travel of the gripping member at opposite sides of the track, means for moving the gripping member on the track relative to the forming wheels, said forming wheels being arranged in such position relative to the element gripping member that the upwardly extending flanges of the element when held in the gripping member will pass between the forming wheels, and means for centering the flanges of the element between the forming wheels as they pass between them, said centering means comprising opposed guides arranged below the forming wheels and adapted to engage opposite sides of the element gripping member, cam means for moving said guides towards each other into engaging position with the opposite sides of the element gripping member,

and a lever and link assembly for actuating the cam means.

5. In apparatus for closing together projecting flanges 0n sheathed electrical heating elements, an element gripping member adapted to receive and hold the heating element with its flanges projecting upwardly above the upper surface of the gripping member, and a pair of opposed forming wheels rotatably mounted at opposite sides of and above the line of travel or" the gripping member, means for moving the gripping member relative to the forming wheels, said forming wheels being arranged in such position relative to the element gripping member that the upwardly extending flanges of the ele-- ment when held in the gripping member Will pass between the forming wheels and be pressed together, and means for raising and lowering the forming wheels relative to the gripping member to vary the position at which the forming wheels engage the flanges of the heating element, said means comprising arms on which the forming wheels are mounted, a shaft, cam bearings on the shaft on which the arms are pivotally mounted and means for turning the shaft to raise and lower the cam bearings.

6. In apparatus for closing and Welding together projecting flanges on sheathed electrical heating elements, a track, an element gripping member mounted on and of less length than said track adapted to receive and hold the heating element with its flanges projecting upwardly above the upper surface of the gripping memher, a pair of opposed forming wheels rotatably mounted at opposite sides of the track above the line of travel of the gripping member, a pair of opposed welding wheels rotatably mounted at opposite sides of the track above the line of travel of the gripping member, means for moving the gripping member on the track back and forth past the forming wheels and welding wheels, said forming Wheels and welding Wheels being arranged in such position relative to the element gripping member that the upwardly extending flanges of the element when held in the gripping member will pass first between the forming wheels and be pressed together and then between the welding Wheels and be welded together, a brake for stopping the element gripping means at each end of its movement on the track; and means for reversing the movement of the element gripping means.

'7. In apparatus for closing and welding together projecting flanges on sheathed electrical heating elements, a track, an element gripping member mounted on and of less length than said track adapted to receive and hold the heating element with its flanges projecting upwardly above the upper surface of the gripping member, a pair of opposed forming wheels rotatably mounted at opposite sides of the track above the line of travel of the gripping member, a pair of opposed welding wheels rotatably mounted at opposite sides of the track above the line of travel of the gripping member, means for moving the gripping member on the track back and forth past the forming wheels and welding wheels, said forming wheels and welding wheels being arranged in such position relative to the element gripping member that the upwardly extending flanges of the element when held in the gripping member will pass first between the forming wheels and be pressed together and. then between the welding wheels and be welded together, a brake for stopping the element gripping means at each end of its movement on the track, means for reversing the movement of the element gripping means, and means for reducing the speed of travel of the element grippingmcmber as it passes the welding wheels.

8. In apparatus for welding together projecting flanges on sheathed electrical heating elements, a track, an element gripping member mounted on said track adapted to receive and hold the heating element with its projecting upwardly above the upper surface of the gripping member, a pair of opposed rotatable welding wheels mounted at opposite sides of the track above the line of travel of the gripping member, pneumatic means for pressing the wheels together to compress the flanges oi the element therebetween, means for passing a high amperage welding electrical current between the welding wheels through the flanges of the element, means for moving the gripping member on the track relative to the welding wheels, said welding wheels being arranged in such position relative to the gripping member that the upward ly extending flanges of the element when held in the gripping member will pass between the welding wheels and be welded together, means for reducing the rate of travel of the gripping member, and a control for actuating the means for reducing the rate of travel of the gripping member and simultaneously admitting compressed air to the pneumatic compressing means to move the welding wheels together.

9. In apparatus for Weldingtogether projecting flanges on sheathed electrical heating elements, a track, an element gripping member in .inted on said track adapted to receive and hold the heating element with its flanges projecting upwardly above the upper surface-of the gripping member, a pair of opposed rotatable welding wheels mounted at opposite sides of the track above theline of travel of the gripping member, pneumatic means for pressing the wheels to gether to compress the flanges of the element .therebetween, means for passing a high amperage welding electrical current between the welding wheels and through the flanges of the element, a timerin the welding circuit for producing an intermittent current, including a timing motor, means for moving the grippingmember on the track relative to the welding wheels, said Welding wheels being arranged in such position relative to the gripping member that the upwardly extending flanges ol the element when held in the gripping member will pass between the welding wheels and be welded together, means for reducing the speed of travel of the gripping member, and a control for actuating the means for reducing the speed of travel of the ripping member, actuating the timing .lOllOl simultaneously. and admitting compressed air to the pneumatic compressing means to move the welding wheels together.

10. In apparatus for closing and welding together projecting flanges on sheathed electrical heating elements, a track, an element gripping member mounted on said track adapted to receive and hold the heating element with its flanges projecting upwardly above the upper surface of the gripping member, and a pair of opposed forming wheels rotatably mounted at opposite sides of the track, a pair of opposed welding wheels rotatably mounted at opposite sides of the track above the gripping member, means for moving the gripping member on the track relative to the formin wheels and welding wheels, said means including a high speed motor, and a low speed motor, means for reversing the direction of the motors, a clutch for connecting the means for moving the gripping member either to the high speed motor-or the low speed motor for varying the rate of travel of said'gripping member on the track, said forming wheels and welding wheels being arranged in such posi tion relative to the element gripping member that the upwardly extending flanges of the element when held in the gripping member will pass first between the forming wheels and be pressed together and then between the welding wheels and be welded together.

11. In apparatus for welding together projecting flanges on sheathed electrical heating elements, an element gripping member adapted to receive and hold the heating element with its flanges projecting upwardly above the upper surface of the gripping member, a frame, a pair of arms mounted on the frame and independently movable transversely of the line of travel of the element gripping member, a pair of opposite rotatable welding wheels one of which is mounted on each arm, means for moving the gripping member relative to the welding wheels, said welding wheels being arranged in such position relative to the gripping member that the upwardly extending flanges of the element when held in the gripping member will pass between the welding wheels and be welded together. means for connecting the arms together and moving them to and from each other to adjust the spacing of the welding wheels, said means comprising a lug on each arm, a compressed air cylinder engaging one lug, a piston rod of said cylinder extending between the lugs, a stop at the outer end of the piston rod, a spring between said step and the adjacent lug, and means for admitting and exhaustin air from the cylinder to move the piston rod relative to the last mentioned lug outwardly to permit the arms to spread apart and inwardly to compress the arms against the pressure of the spring.

12. In apparatus for welding together projecting flanges on sheathed electrical heating elements, a frame, a pair of arms mounted on said frame, a rotatable welding wheel mounted on each arm in opposed relationship, said wheels having vertical axes and substantially flat horizontal upper and lower surfaces, a hub on each welding wheel having a transverse passageway therein opening above the upper surface of the welding wheel and a vertical passageway communicating with the transverse passageway and opening below the hub, bearings between the hub and the arm on which the welding wheel rotates, a bridge secured at each end to the arm, a cover plate on the bridge extending over each wheel having a recess in the under side, said recess communicating with the transverse passageway in the hub, means for feeding a cooling fluid to the upper face of said wheels whereby said fluid will flow over the wheels beneath the cap and drain through the openings in the hub, and sealing means adjacent the periphery of the cover plate engaging the upper surface of the welding wheel.

13. In apparatus for welding projecting flanges on sheathed electrical heating elements, an element gripping member adapted to receive and hold the heating element with its flanges projecting above the upper surface of the gripping member, a frame, a pair of arms mounted on the frame and independently movable transversely of the line of travel of the element gripping member, a welding wheel rotatably mounted on each arm, on each side of the element gripping member and above the line of travel thereof, a welding circuit for passing a high amperage Welding electrical current between the welding wheels and through the flanges, means tending to move the arms, and thus the welding wheels, together, a switch in the welding circuit mounted on one of the arms, and means actuated by the relative movement of the arms for actuating the switch to break the weldin circuit when the wheels are at a predetermined relative position comprising a linkage between the other arm and the switch.

14. In apparatus for welding projecting flanges on sheathed electrical heating elements, an element gripping member adapted to receive and hold the heating element with its flanges projecting above the upper surface of the gripping memher, a frame, a pair of arms mounted on the frame and independently movable transversely of the line of travel of the element gripping member, a welding wheel rotatably mounted on each arm, on each side of the element gripping member and above the line of travel thereof, a welding circuit for passing a high amperage welding electrical current between the welding wheels and through the flanges, means tending to move the arms, and thus the welding wheels, to-

gether, a switch in the welding circuit mounted on one of the arms, and means actuated by the relative movement of the arms for actuating the switch to break the welding circuit when the wheels are at a predetermined relative position comprising a lever for actuating the switch, a rod secured to the other arm, means on the rod for engaging the lever to actuate the switch.

ELMORE STANLEY SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,052,820 Higgin Feb. 11, 1913 1,080,651 Noll Dec. 9, 1913 1,709,587 Lawson Apr. 16, 1929 1,956,172 Holt Apr. 24, 1934 1,992,553 Sykes Feb. 26, 1935 2,018,379 Pfeiffer Oct. 22, 1935 2,302,481 Titus Nov. 17, 1942 2,324,068 Crandell July 13, 1943 2,415,912 Scherl Feb. 18, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 318,593 Germany Feb. 4, 1920 391,925 Germany Mar. 13, 1924 

